Bagel with schmear

A bagel with schmear is a classic New York-style breakfast or snack consisting of a boiled-and-baked ring roll sliced and generously spread with cream cheese ('schmear' is Yiddish for spread). The bagel itself is typically plain, sesame, or everything-flavored, while the schmear can range from plain to scallion, vegetable, or lox-spread varieties. This combination originated in Jewish-American delis and bakeries in the early 20th century.

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🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

A standard serving (one medium bagel with 2 tablespoons of plain cream cheese) provides around 350-400 calories, primarily from carbohydrates in the bagel and fat in the cream cheese. It offers a decent amount of protein (10-12g) and calcium, but is relatively low in fiber unless a whole-grain bagel is chosen.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	350 kcal
Protein	12 g
Carbs	52 g
Fat	10 g
Fiber	2 g
Sugar	6 g
Sodium	650 mg
Calcium	120 mg
Iron	2.5 mg
Potassium	150 mg
Magnesium	30 mg
Phosphorus	150 mg
Selenium	20 mcg
Thiamin (B1)	0.3 mg
Folate	80 mcg

Per 1 bagel with schmear (approx. 130 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

The term 'schmear' comes from Yiddish, reflecting the dish's roots in Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine, and the bagel's unique boiling-then-baking process gives it its signature chewy texture. Nutritionally, pairing the high-carb bagel with fat-and-protein-rich cream cheese helps slow digestion and provides more sustained energy than bread alone.